Tributes have been paid to Danielle Hampson, the Bolton-born dancer who tragically died on the morning she was due to get married to her X-Factor fiancé.
Originally from Westhoughton, Danielle was set to get married to Tom Mann, made famous by the ITV talent show as part of Stereo Kicks, when she was discovered to have died at the age of just 34 in the early hours of Saturday morning (June 18).
Tom announced the heart-breaking news on his Instagram yesterday, accompanied by a picture of Danielle and their son, Bowie.
READ: Tom Mann's heartbreak after death of fiancée Danielle Hampson
A world-class performer in her own right, Danielle toured the world dancing alongside the likes of Little Mix, The Pussycat Dolls, Michael Buble and Harry Styles.
As a girl, Danielle performed in the amateur dramatics society the Bethel Crowd based in Westhoughton, where her mum is still a member of today.
Pete Schofield, a founding member and current chair of the Bethel Crowd, described his shock at Danielle's untimely passing.
“It knocked us for six,” he said. “The news has absolutely shocked us.
“We’re thinking of them all. Tom and the baby. Her mum, Jeanette, dad, Martin, and her brother, Andrew.
“It’s just devastating, we can’t believe it. It’s terrible.
“She was a lovely girl. She really was. We’ll never forget her. She was very popular.
“We just remember a really lovely person. She was always smiling and bubbly.”
Pete added: “She acted and danced in the Bethel Crowd. She could sing too.
"As she got older, she started getting some of the more mature parts. Playing princesses in the pantomime, that sort of thing.”
After performing with the Bethel Crowd, Danielle went on to specialise as a dancer. She attended the Wendy Heywood School of Dance in her Bolton, before later graduating from the renowned Phil Winston’s Theatreworks in 2007 based in Blackpool.
She had performed in the Albert Halls in Bolton.
In 2010, she came back to pass on her wisdom and skills to the next generation of dancers at the Wendy Heywood School of Dance.
READ: Danielle’s next dance job is a real Thriller
Tributes have also been pouring in from high profile celebrities such as Lewis Capaldi, Ellie Goulding and Nadine Coyle.
Paul Cohen, Chairman of Bolton Amateur Theatre Societies, said: "We are saddened and shocked to hear the news, Bethel Crowd Theatre group is a very tight knit group and it is just so very sad."
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